BYRON ALLEN has ambitions the size of America. His acquisitions and lawsuits all add up to a burning desire for racial justice. And he’s not done yet. He started out as a teenage standup comedian and joke writer for sitcom star Jimmie Walker, part of a writing team that also included then-unknown Jay Leno and David Letterman. But today Byron Allen is well known for his aggressive tactics to expand his portfolio of video properties and obtain what he considers to be a fair share of advertising revenue. Allen is founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. In the following interview he unabashedly states that he’s creating the world’s biggest media company “to help effectuate change for the greater good of America.” As part of his mandate, Allen Media reportedly raised $10 billion in a bid to purchase the large group of TV stations owned by TEGNA. Whether or not Allen and TEGNA would strike a deal was unknown as this article went to press. Among Allen Media’s holdings is The Weather Channel and related properties like the streaming platform Local Now. Allen Media is currently home to 33 TV stations with Big 4 affiliations. And it is also partnered with Sinclair Broadcasting Group in 21 regional sports networks. In this exclusive conversation with contributor Krista Van Lewen and TFM editor Janet Stilson, Allen riffs on topics ranging from his early days in show business to his lawsuits and acquisition goals. An edited transcript follows.
24 The Financial Manager • January/February 2022
